Virginia Rodrigues (born Salvador, December 31, 1964) started her career by singing in both Catholic and Protestant church choirs.
In 1997, she was invited by the director Márcio Meirelles to attend Pelô Bye Bye. There she was discovered by Caetano Veloso.
Her music is influenced by classical music, samba and jazz, while his lyrics have references to Candomblé and Umbanda.
Of humble origin, Virginia brings popular references and lyrical than heard in childhood and youth. The result is that their singing wander between the erudite and the popular.

The first album Sol Negro was produced by Celso Fonseca and had arrangements by Eduardo Souto Neto. It was released on the Rykodisc label and was well received in the United States and Europe.
The Times of London described Rodrigues as "The new diva of Brazilian music". The album also received good reviews in "Le Monde" and the magazine "Rolling Stone".
The songs were chosen by Virginia, Caetano and Celso Fonseca, and includes songs such as "Noite de Temporal" by Dorival Caymmi, besides the participation of Djavan, Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento.
So the history of Bahian singer was internationally known that American journalists dubbed as "Brazilian Cinderella". Former manicure output a slum in Salvador held in a year, two tours by the United States, shows in Europe and was interviewed by David Byrne, a live on American television.
In the United States, Europe and Japan, the first record came out by Rykodisc label, owned by Chris Blackwell.

Rodrigues' second album, Nós, features songs of Ile Aiye, Olodum, Timbaland, Ara Ketu and Afreketê,  Virginia honors "african blocks" of Salvador.
"The New York Times" has already defined it as "one of the most impressive singers who came from Brazil in recent years."
"One of the most impressive international releases of recent years." Wrote Stephan Cook the "All Music Guide".

Her third album, Mares Profundos, producted by Caetano Veloso, crowned by success abroad, was released in January 2004 on prestigious German label "Deutsche Grammophon" (!!!) and features 11 African-sambas composed between 1962 and 1966 by guitarist Baden Powell (1937–2000) and the poet Vinicius de Moraes (1913–1980). The program closes with samba 'Lapinha' (Baden-Paulo Cesar Pinheiro).

Her fourth album, Recomeço, was released in 2008.
Her chamber music singing together with the understanding of popular song give a new sense of poetry of Chico Buarque, as “Todo Sentimento” (with Cristóvão Bastos) and “Beatriz” (with Edu Lobo); by Vinicius de Moraes on “Eu te Amo Amor”.

Her fifth album, "Mama Kalunga", was rleased in 2015, based on African roots and resonances of the black diaspora.
The repertoire consists of songs by composers like Abigail Moura, Geraldo Filme, Moacir Santos, Nei Lopes, Paulinho da Viola, Roberto Mendes, Nizaldo Costa, Ederaldo Gentil and contemporary composers as Gilson Nascimento e Tiganá Santana.
"Mama Kalunga" crosses several meanings of this force (Kalunga) so releted to Bantu civilizations of Africa.


Virginia Rodrigues is today one of the most respected singer and she regularly appears in the circuit of the most important jazz festivals and world music throughout the world, participating in several world tours.
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton - who was delighted to watch her presentation in São Paulo - once said that she was the singer who he liked best in the world and mentioned her in his memoir "My Life."
The New York Times ranked her voice as "heavenly".